Summit Hill man given state prison term for drug dealing

Tuesday, October 20, 2009

By DEN MCLAUGHLIN dmclaughlin@tnonline.com

A Summit Hill man was given a state prison term on Monday for drug dealing.

Allen Ronald Bennyhoff, 43, of 5 N. Market St., was sentenced by Carbon County President Judge Roger N. Nanovic II to serve one to two years in prison on single count of criminal conspiracy to possess with intent to deliver a controlled substance cocaine.

Bennyhoff was arrested on May 22 after agents of the state Attorney General's office served a search warrant on his home. Found in the home was seven grams of cocaine, a digital scale and $1,817 in cash. Arrested along with him was his wife, Rita Bennyhoff. She previously pleaded guilty to a drug count and was sentenced to serve six to one day less 24 months in the county prison.

Nanovic told Bennyhoff he was concerned about his drug dealing and drug use. Nanovic said a short time after Bennyhoff was released on parole after serving a prison term for fleeing police and driving under the influence (DUI), he tested positive for drug use.

The jurist also noted that in an interview with the adult probation office Bennyhoff admitted to snorting cocaine.

Bennyhoff said he sold drugs to pay family bills.

Nanovic also ordered that Bennyhoff get both a drug and alcohol (D&A) and mental health evaluations and follow any recommendations for treatment, and imposed zero tolerance on drug or alcohol use.

Bennyhoff was given credit for 72 days spent in jail on the charges and will begin the prison term at 10 a.m. on Nov. 2.

Trespass plea

Gerald Niehoff, 29, of Lehighton, pleaded to one count of criminal trespass, as a summary offense, and was fined $100 and costs. He was arrested by Lehighton police for entering the home of his mother after being told he was not welcome there.